Association of BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism with Depressive and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia / 대한정신약물학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and its genotypic distribution with depressive and cognitive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: The subjects were 207 patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia and 100 normal subjects. We evaluated psychotic, depressive, and cognitive symptoms using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, 17 Hamilton's Rating Scale for Depression, and the Korean version-Mini Mental Status Examination in schizophrenic patients. The serum level of BDNF was analyzed with ELISA and the genotypic distribution of BDNF was examined in all subjects. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were detected in genotype or serum level of BDNF between the patients with schizophrenia and normal subjects, between depressed and nondepressed patients, or between the patients with and without cognitive impairments. The frequency of Met alleles was high in the depressive schizophrenic patients with cognitive impairments (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Met alleles are associated with depression in schizophrenic patients with cognitive impairments, but serum BDNF concentration is not related to the presence of depression or cognitive impairments.